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Eliza Dushku at first sight may appear to be just another teen actress who's fab looks were a major factor in getting the young star tons of work in Hollywood, but in actuality she was getting parts way before she was anyone's dream date. Eliza was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, and immediately took a liking to acting. In first grade, she joined the Watertown Children's Theatre, starting to perfect her talent at an early age. She was alreayd a big fan of dance, which she practiced all the time, but it wasn't until she was 13 that she got her big break, when she was cast alongside Juliette Lewis in That Night. That same year she appeared with Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy's Life. This breakthrough would lead her to roles in 1994's True Lies, with such big names as Arnold Schwartznegger and Jamie Lee Curtis and Bye Bye Love, alongside Paul Reiser and Randy Quaid.
But Eliza didn't just stick to the big screen. In 1998, she appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Faith, a slayer from the wrong side of the tracks. She was so popular on the show that the producers decided to keep her on for more seasons as a recurring character.
Then in 2000, Eliza appeared in Bring It On, costarring Kirsten Dunst, as Missy Pantone, an outcast gymnast who turns into a peppy cheerleader. Eliza had a chance in this movie to show off some of her moves that she had been practicing back home in grade school. The result was some great exposure, as Eliza was able to capture any scene with her depth of talent and polished skills.
Eliza is not just a girl who is looking for her 15 minutes of fame. She's a young performer on the brink of superstardom! Make sure you keep an eye out for her in The New Guy, where she will star alongside DJ Qualls, Soul Survivors with Casey Affleck and Wes Bentley, and City by the Sea with Robert DeNiro and James Franco. With all that work on her plate we're sure Eliza is glad she put in the extra hours in class, and in the gym, as her stamina will surely be tested, as well as her star power.
Reprinted from Blast! Issue #7 - July 2001